Table of contents for October 2023 in What Car?

At a conference in the late 1990s, Microsoft founder Bill Gates reportedly said that if the automotive industry had introduced new technology at the speed the computer world does, we’d all be driving cars that cost $25 and averaged 1000mpg. However, General Motors fired back that those cars would also crash twice a day. While obviously exaggerating, both sides were making valid points; cars have traditionally evolved more slowly than computers, but as I write this, What Car?’s IT department has just advised me to turn my laptop on and off again in order to try to fix a software glitch. Then again, I reckon even Gates might be impressed by how far electric cars from the more affordable end of the market have come over the past few years…

SUBSCRIBE NOW! Visit themagazineshop.com/SM23PA/wca call 03448 488835 quoting ‘SM23PAWCA’ or scan the QR code scan me Get more from your subscription DISCOUNTS ✔ Enjoy exclusive partner discounts, including tickets to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu COMPETITIONS ✔ Win 2 x Goodwood Members’ Meeting tickets (worth £338) ✔ Win 2 x Goodwood Festival of Speed tickets (worth £172) ✔ Win an invitation to the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year Awards ✔ Access to money-can’t-buy automotive experiences SUBSCRIBER EVENTS ✔ Chances to join our Reader Test Team ✔ Factory visits ✔ Access to unique subscriber events TERMS AND CONDITIONS This is a UK-only offer; for overseas offers, please visit themagazineshop.com/SM23PA/wca or call +44 (0) 1604 251 461. All savings are based on the UK cover price of £6.99 and…

A SCHEME ALLOWING drivers of older cars to trade them in for up to £2000 towards the cost of a newer model has been extended to cover all areas impacted by the expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The ULEZ scrappage scheme had previously been available only to inner London residents who receive benefits, but it can now be used by any resident within the Greater London area; this includes most areas inside the M25 motorway. Expanding the scheme has reportedly cost £50 million, but allows more private and business drivers to benefit. Small businesses can receive up to £7000 to scrap a non-eligible van – limited to three vans per business – while the grant for minibuses has risen from £7000 to £9000. The grant for replacing an older…

NEW Renault Austral 1.2 E-Tech FHEV Iconic Esprit Alpine List price £39,495 Target Price £38,143 The high-tech replacement for the distinctly average Kadjar brings features that are rarely seen at this price point NEW Honda ZR-V 2.0 e:HEV Advance List price £42,895 Target Price £42,895 Slotting in between Honda’s smaller HR-V and larger CR-V, this all-new hybrid family SUV aims to combine low running costs with sharp handling Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HEV GT-Line S List price £40,475 Target Price £38,599 The one to beat. In a cheaper guise, the well-rounded Sportage is our reigning Family SUV of the Year. This time we’re testing it in top-spec hybrid form The Temu online shopping app has been downloaded by millions of users attracted by the premise of its ‘shop like a…

WAY BACK IN the annals of time, those after a small car for urban motoring could see the advantages of going electric but were still a little wary. Would such a thing have enough range to get me to where I want to go? Would it cost me a fortune to buy? Will the batteries last? Where was the electric car for the buyer of modest means? Well, since 2013, the Renault Zoe has always been the answer, standing out like a beacon of light and hope. It’s been around for so long now, and has been such a sales success, that there are plenty of them for sale used, with prices starting from as low as £5000. Along with the original Nissan Leaf, those earliest Zoes were pioneers and…

If you want a premium product, you need to spend premium money, right? Well, not if the premium product you’re looking at is the Audi A3 40 TFSIe, because it will actually cost you less to own than most plug-in hybrid (PHEV) rivals. Take, for example, the Peugeot 308 Hybrid 180, which matches the A3’s 40-mile official electric range; it will cost you almost £100 per month more on a PCP finance deal. Then there’s the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which is available with plug-in hybrid power only if you choose the saloon variant and ends up costing a hefty £159 more than the A3 per month. Even if you’re looking to buy outright, the A3 still looks fantastic value. And that’s before we come to benefit-in-kind tax. No other family car…

EVERYONE LOVES AN underdog, and upon its arrival, the Hyundai Kona Electric was exactly that. It helped to establish that relatively affordable electric cars, and a neat and practical SUV to boot, can take you a decent distance on a single charge. In fact, when we tested its real-world range in 2018, the 64kWh version went farther than the 13 other EVs we put it up against; it managed a total of 259 miles before it came to a halt, compared with its official range of 300 miles. To this day, the Kona Electric’s range remains very competitive, easily exceeding the rival Vauxhall Mokka-e’s 209-mile official range, as well as the 212 miles managed by the Peugeot e-2008. Equipment isn’t lacking, either. Even entry-level SE has such desirable features as…

When it comes to differentiating models that use the same underpinnings, some car makers do a better job than others. Among the most successful are Genesis, Hyundai and Kia. These brands from within a South Korean stable share many major components to make, respectively, the GV60, Ioniq 5 and EV6 electric SUVs. Each of these has its own, distinct identity inside and out, and they even manage to feel quite different from each other to drive. They’re all excellent, but the more upmarket GV60 impresses the most. From the moment you get in, the GV60 dazzles you with materials and design features that make it feel more like a concept car than something you can actually buy. Most of the surfaces are covered with soft-touch materials, manmade leather and attractive…

When kids at sleepovers ransack the kitchen for midnight snacks, they inevitably head for the crisps and chocolate and leave the broccoli and lettuce alone. Basically, they don’t know what’s good for them. The same thinking has people overlooking the ultra-sensible MG 5 estate in favour of trendier alternatives. Generally, that means electric SUVs, and to get one for this sort of money, you’ll want MG’s ZS EV from the other side of the showroom. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay much more for a Hyundai Kona Electric or a Kia Niro EV. For the enlightened, though, the MG 5 is an excellent halfway house between those electric SUVs and small electric hatchbacks such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. The best news is that, in our preferred entry-level SE…

Despite the rise to prominence of SUVs, traditional executive saloons such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are still a common sight in company car parks and on motorways all over the UK. In many cases, they’re better to drive and swankier looking than their SUV equivalents, with the C-Class in particular being hard to tell apart from an S-Class limo at first glance. In tax-busting plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form, they can also be relatively inexpensive to run – especially when they have an unusually long electric range like Mercedes’ C300e. In our preferred mid-range AMG Line Premium trim, the C300e can officially travel for up to 71 miles between charges. That puts it in the second-lowest, 5% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket, making it among the…

AUDI PULLED OUT all the stops for the E-tron – its first production electric car. This posh SUV packed lashings of luxury and tech and, as a result, it initially demanded some deep pockets to buy. In 2019, its starting price was £71,520. Fast forward to today and you can pick up an E-tron for just £26,000. Let that sink in for a moment: you can have this flagship Audi SUV for less than the price of a new Ford Focus – and less than a used BMW iX3 or Mercedes-Benz EQC. What’s the catch? Well, those rivals have much longer ranges than the entry-level E-tron 50. Therefore, you might want to spend a bit extra and get the more competitive 55 version, which can officially travel for 241 miles…

It’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And while there are cases where introducing plug-in hybrid power to a performance car serves to thoroughly neuter the driving experience, when it comes to the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the exact opposite is true. You see, a welcome side-effect of electrification (which massively reduces CO2 emissions) is that the 4 E-Hybrid steps on the toes of the much pricier (and thirstier) V8-powered GTS version when it comes to acceleration. Indeed, its 2.9-litre V6 and electric motor combine to produce a hefty 456bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 4.4sec – a mere 0.5sec behind the GTS. Of course, being a PHEV, the E-Hybrid has the ability to run on electric power alone. Its 17.9kWh battery can officially take it…

AUDI SQ5 PORSCHE MACAN SWITCHING A CAR from petrol to diesel power is about as common these days as someone ditching their Spotify playlist for a personal CD player. In 2019, though, Audi announced that the SQ5 – the sportiest version of the Q5 SUV – would henceforth use a 3.0-litre diesel engine in place of its previous petrol powerhouse. The decision had enthusiasts’ brows furrowed, but Audi was confident that the engine, with its clever electronic trickery and 48-volt mild hybrid system, would be both powerful and efficient enough to appeal to anyone who was after a top-flight sports SUV. Speaking of which, the Porsche Macan is one of our favourites, but while diesel Macans were offered, none quite matched the muscle of the SQ5; in fact, the 3.0-litre…

1 Hyundai i20 N THEE’S SOMETHING SLIGHTLY old-school about the i20 N – and we mean that in a good way. It’s not only quick and fun to drive but, unlike many current hot hatches, is also very affordable. Its engine even has a touch of turbo lag, with a small pause between you asking for more power and it arriving – all part of the charm. And because its handling and ride are calmer than the Ford Fiesta ST’s, the i20 N is an easy car to drive quickly. Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 204 List price £26,530 Target Price £25,965 MPG 40.4 CO2 158g/km For Gutsy performance; friendly handling; comfier ride than Fiesta ST; relatively cheap to buy and run Against Slightly less playful handling than Fiesta ST; smaller…

1 Hyundai Santa Fe THERE’S LOADS TO like about the latest Santa Fe, including its huge boot and practical interior with seating for up to seven adults. The regular hybrid version that we recommend offers the best trade-off between price and running costs, and even entry-level Premium trim comes with many of the luxuries that are available only on high-end versions of the closely related Kia Sorento, making it fantastic value for money. Our pick 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 4WD Premium List price £45,295 Target Price £41,917 MPG 40.4 CO2 159g/km For User-friendly interior with seven seats suitable for adults; huge boot; loads of standard kit; long warranty Against Performance is only average; some wind noise at motorway speeds; top trim is expensive WHAT CAR? SAYS BMW X7 Our pick xDrive40i…

1 Skoda Superb Estate SPACE IS THE name of the game when you’re looking at wagons, and the Superb Estate has been our favourite for eight years, striking the sweet spot of practicality, comfort, low running costs and value more accurately than any rival. In fact, with masses of load space for flat-pack furniture or suitcases and palatial comfort for passengers, it’s one of the most impressive family holdalls in any class of car. Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE L List price £35,765 Target Price £32,697 MPG 42.7 CO2 150g/km For Comfortable ride; limo-like rear passenger space; huge boot with lots of practical touches; well priced Against Some rivals are more fun to drive on twisty roads; automatic gearbox can be a tad jerky in traffic WHAT CAR? SAYS…

1 Ford Puma ST UNTIL RECENTLY, BUYING a sports SUV required a sizeable outlay, but the Ford Puma ST changes that. And don’t think the fact that it costs far less than the competition means it’s far less fun. Even the mighty Porsche Cayenne has to bow to the Puma’s incredible agility, while its greater driver engagement and less extreme acceleration mean there’s far more chance to enjoy yourself on public roads. Our pick 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack List price £32,410 Target Price £30,509 MPG 42.8 CO2 148g/km For Hugely entertaining handling; tuneful and punchy engine; relatively cheap to buy and run Against Occasionally bouncy ride; infotainment system could be slicker; Volkswagen T-Roc is bigger in the back WHAT CAR? SAYS Porsche Cayenne Coupé Our pick S List price…

THE GOVERNMENT IS being asked to set out exactly how it plans to transition drivers to electric power, following a new inquiry launched by the House of Lords. The Lords’ Environment and Climate Change Committee has launched its inquiry to determine how the Government will acheive its goal of decarbonising cars and vans over the next 12 years. The aim of the inquiry is to establish what the main barriers are to the Government achieving its objective, as well as to build a clearer picture of the challenges – and benefits – of the proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. Under current plans, it will be impossible to buy a new car powered solely by petrol or diesel from 2030, with hybrids capable…

SAVE £1338 Skoda Karoq WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 1.5 TSI 150 SE L List price £30,660 Target Price £29,322 Target PCP £321 Skoda’s family SUV has recently had a refresh to tweak its exterior design and upgrade its safety tech. As before, it’s a brilliant all-rounder that’s exceptional value. Our favourite engine in the line-up is the 1.5-litre petrol; it’s much better at dealing with heavier loads and faster roads than the entry-level 1.0. SCAN FOR A GREAT DEAL ON THIS CAR SAVE £1911 Toyota RAV4 WHAT CAR? SAYS Model 2.5 Hybrid 4x4 Design List price £41,260 Target Price £39,349 Target PCP £498 Few family SUVs can match the hybrid RAV4 when it comes to reliability or standard kit. This Design trim is our favourite; it gives you sat-nav, adaptive…

Would you like to be part of a future Reader Test Team? Email us with your details at readertestteam@whatcar.com Check out other electric cars in our 2023 EV Awards from p63 Claire Evans claire.evans@haymarket.com WHEN BMW LAUNCHES the new 5 Series executive car in November, the headline-grabber of the line-up will be the electric i5. With sales of new petrol and diesel cars ceasing from 2030, it’s the electric variants that will take the brand forward in the future, so there’s a lot of pressure to get them right. There are two versions of the i5: a 335bhp, rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 and a 593bhp, four-wheel-drive M60. We’ve driven the latter in prototype form and found it to be fast, comfortable and more agile than its main rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The…

Just how far have things moved on at the affordable end of the electric vehicle (EV) market in the past 10 years? Answering this question should give us a good idea of where we might be in another decade’s time, when (as it stands) EVs are likely to account for the vast majority of new cars you’ll be able to go out and buy. To find out, we put together a two-part challenge with three EVs: one car that represents the state of the UK market today, another that was a sound choice from around five years ago, and the third an early electric pioneer from a decade ago. On day one, we’d head to Brighton for lunch, before driving to Oxford’s zero emission zone – an example of the…

If you buy the cheapest coffee machine on Amazon, you don’t expect it to make coffee anywhere near as well as an expensive barista set-up. After all, it’s usually true that you get what you pay for. The thing is, no one told MG. In fact, when you compare the MG 4’s price tag with those of similar-sized rivals such as the Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech and Volkswagen ID 3, you might think there’s been some kind of mistake, because it undercuts each of them by around £10,000. If you want a saving that big, you have to go for the entry-level SE, but that’s our favourite version. Its 50.8kWh (usable) battery means an official range of 218 miles – not as far as those rivals but enough for…

LOVELY THOUGH THAT new Audi A3 40 TFSIe is, we can offer you a cut-price used alternative: the Seat Leon e-Hybrid. You see, the two cars are virtually identical under the skin, and if you’re willing to sacrifice a little of that showroom-fresh smell and the prestige of owning an Audi, you can have almost everything the A3 offers for nearly half the price. We’ve always rated this latest iteration of the Leon very highly, and the plug-in e-Hybrid adds an extra dimension to its many qualities. What you’ll get is a spacious and practical family hatchback that’s not only good to drive and comfortable to ride in but also has the added virtue of being able to travel for up to 40 miles (officially, at least) on electric power…

Every now and again, you meet someone who seems to have things much too easy in life. They live in a beautiful house, they have a great sense of humour, their kids are well behaved and they have a job they love. And they probably drive a Range Rover Evoque P300e. For company car user-choosers, the Evoque P300e is hard to beat when it comes to making you feel good without bleeding your wallet dry. As a small, upmarket SUV with lantern-jawed good looks, few cars are quite so fashionable. And with a benefit-in-kind rating of 12%, not many rivals are cheaper on company car tax. P300e drivers have more to look smug about than the big bills they’re not facing, though; after all, this is our favourite version in…

THE SKODA ENYAQ may look rather conventional next to one or two of its modern electric SUV rivals, but don’t be put off: it’s one of the best around, new or used, regardless of size. The Enyaq is good to drive, comfortable, practical and refined, plus it comes with a decent range. The cheaper 60 version we favour pumps out a healthy 177bhp, so performance is decent, and it steers, grips and handles with more aplomb than you might expect from what is a sizeable electric SUV. Inside, there’s masses of room front and rear, as well as a large boot, so holidays with the kids and all their paraphernalia won’t hold any terrors. Indeed, we think an Enyaq is an ideal choice for families anxious to dip their toes…

Being named best electric MPV is a bit like dominating at sports day when you’re home schooled, in that there’s precious little competition to overcome. But don’t go thinking that this means the Volkswagen ID Buzz is less deserving of its place here than some of our other winners. On the contrary, we rate the Buzz so highly that we named it our overall 2023 Car of the Year back in January, reasoning that it had moved the game on more than any other model launched in the preceding 12 months. For example, in an era where cars often have big blind-spots, the Buzz offers sensational all-round visibility – partly because of its huge windows and partly because you sit at the sort of height usually reserved for Range Rover…

SO, YOU WANT an MG 5, but you’d like to spend even less? Well, there’s now a decent number of used examples to choose from, with early MG 5s (from 2020) available for just £15,000 – around half what you’ll pay for a new one. This original version has a 154bhp electric motor and a 49kWh (usable) battery that was good for an official range of 214 miles. A mild refresh in 2021 introduced the larger Long Range battery (see main story); you’ll need around £17,000 for a used example of that model. A facelift last year brought in sharper styling, complete with an updated interior and upgraded infotainment system. One of those cars will set you back around £25,000, which is still a useful saving on a new one.…

The sleek, almost button-free Apple iPhone was unveiled in 2007, and overnight every other mobile phone suddenly looked terribly old-fashioned. And similarly, the Tesla Model 3 redefined perceptions of what a sensibly priced electric car should offer when it went on sale in the UK back in 2019. As a result, the Model 3 arrived in the executive car class with not just a splash but a tsunami, and other manufacturers are still struggling to catch up. The BMW i4 is its closest rival and outshines it when it comes to interior quality and ride comfort, but the Model 3 either equals or betters that car in most other areas, not least practicality. That’s because, while the i4 shares much of its structure with BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupé, the…

WHILE DISNEY WORLD arguably offers the most opportunities for fun, there’s still plenty of joy to be had at any Disney resort. And while the BMW M3 performance car serves up non-stop thrills, you’ll find driver appeal in every 3 Series variant. Take this 330e plug-in hybrid version. It’s no slouch in a straight line, and its sharp, well-balanced handling makes it more fun to drive than rivals such as the previous-generation Mercedes-Benz C300e and the Volvo S60 T8. The 330e’s ride leans on the firmer side of the executive car spectrum, but it’s never uncomfortable. Find a car with the optional-from-new adaptive suspension (part of the M Sport Pro Pack) and it’s even better. Naturally, as a plug-in hybrid, the 330e has the potential for impressive fuel economy. And…

Training as a world-class sprinter is hard enough, but mastering the steeplechase adds a whole other dimension of difficulty. Rather than going hell for leather on a perfectly smooth track, the steeplechase runner’s path is strewn with obstacles they have to leap over. Okay, the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo can’t actually jump, but having a 20mm taller ride height than other Taycans means it feels even more at home on the UK’s lumpy, worn-out roads. In Sport mode, with its adaptive suspension as taut as a sprinter’s hamstrings, the Cross Turismo tackles uneven Tarmac with incredible fluidity, without fear that its shapely chin will bottom out on undulations taken at speed. For agility and sheer driver appeal, the Cross Turismo outclasses rivals such as the Audi E-tron GT and Kia…

YOU MIGHT HAVE spotted the BMW i8 concept in the film Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol and thought a sports car as futuristic looking as that could never make its way onto your driveway. If you did, you might want to think again. The production version of the i8 still turns heads today, not just because of its sleek design and butterfly doors, but also because you can now pick one up for just £36,000 (versus more than £100k when they were new). True, that’s still not cheap, but you’ll have to pay far more than that for an Audi R8 or Porsche 911 of a similar age. And we think i8 prices will only go up from here. What’s more, being a plug-in hybrid, the i8 is more affordable to…

1 Honda Jazz THE JAZZ IS the small car to beat for passenger space, and its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its usability. However, crucially, the Jazz outscores its rivals even if you take practicality out of the equation, thanks to its great driving position, strong performance and generous standard kit. Hybrid power makes it really cheap to fuel, too, and slow depreciation helps to make up for relatively high prices. Our pick 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid Elegance List price £25,900 Target Price £25,465 MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km For Remarkably spacious, with great seating flexibility; strong performance; lots of standard kit; holds value well Against Pricey by small car standards; not the quietest cruiser; disappointing infotainment system WHAT CAR? SAYS Skoda Fabia Our pick 1.0 TSI 95…

1 Volkswagen T-Roc THE T-ROC WAS always a fine buy, but this latest version has raised its game to a new level. A soft ride makes it more comfortable than most of its rivals, while its spacious interior is much smarter looking than the previous model’s. In addition, unlike many of its rivals, it has the high-set driving position that many SUV buyers crave. We’d stick with one of the cheaper models; top-spec T-Rocs are too expensive to be a good bet. Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 Life List price £27,045 Target Price £25,808 MPG 47.1 CO2 136g/km For Comfy ride; quiet on the motorway; spacious and well equipped; big boot; high driving position Against Not as much fun to drive as a Ford Puma; top trims are too pricey;…

1 Tesla Model 3 AS WELL AS being one of the best electric cars you can buy, the Model 3 makes complete sense for company car drivers too, largely thanks to its lowly 2% benefit-in-kind tax rating and outstanding efficiency. Even the entry-level RWD version we recommend has a long range, plus it’s good to drive, packed full of tech, reasonably priced and very practical. Tesla’s dedicated public charging network is second to none, too. Our pick RWD List price £42,990 Target Price £42,990 Range 305 miles CO2 0g/km For Class-leading efficiency; fast charging via Tesla’s own network; surprisingly practical; well priced Against Firm low-speed ride; not all that quiet at motorway speeds; not quite as much fun to drive as a BMW 3 Series WHAT CAR? SAYS Mercedes-Benz C-Class…

1 BMW 4 Series Coupé ITS LOOKS MAY be divisive, but whether or not you’re a fan of this 4 Series’ aggressive styling, you’ll love what’s underneath. This is one of the most rewarding driver’s cars in the class and, if you opt for the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension, it’s also a very comfortable everyday car. In addition, the 4 Series benefits from a wonderful interior with supportive seats and class-leading infotainment. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £46,235 Target Price £44,224 MPG 42.8 CO2 151g/km For Rewarding handling; no longer so derivative of 3 Series; high-quality interior; composed ride Against Looks won’t be for everyone; some rivals have larger boots; you hear wind and tyre noise at speed WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi TT Our pick 40…

VOLVO HAS DISCONTINUED all of its saloons and estate models in the UK, which means its line-up now consists entirely of SUVs. The latest S60 executive saloon, as well as the V60 and V90 estates, are no longer listed for sale by the brand online, although orders from stock can still be made. The S90 luxury car was discontinued earlier this year. Volvo said the move was part of a consolidation of its model range as it prepared to move to a fully electric line-up. Volvo currently sells the XC40, XC60 and XC90 combustion-engined SUVs, as well as the electric XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, but two new electric SUVs, the EX30 and larger EX90, will arrive next year. So far in 2023, seven of the top 10 best-selling new…

When a popular TV series is rebooted with a completely different cast, the prospect can have viewers up in arms. Likewise, reinventing a combustion-engined car to have electric power instead risks upsetting diehard fans. In the cast of the Fiat 500, though, the petrol engine only had a supporting role. What defines it is the set dressing; the way it looks, inside and out, and the way it makes you feel. Here, the electric 500 follows the original script as faithfully as any devotee could ask for. Its exterior design includes all the original’s retro cues yet somehow seems utterly up to date, and the interior remains charming yet offers all the essential kit you need, such as sat-nav, DAB radio and smartphone connectivity, all accessed via a 10.3in touchscreen.…

THE NAME ‘GOLF’ has become as synonymous with family cars as Hoover has with vacuum cleaners and Tannoy with public address systems. The ID 3 – the electric successor to Volkswagen’s Golf – is charged with doing the same in a post-petrol world. And while its name might not yet slip from your tongue like ‘Golf’ does, the ID 3 does a good job of following in that car’s footsteps. Looks-wise, it successfully straddles the line between overtly futuristic and entirely conventional in a way that the buyer looking for an updated Golf might be entirely comfortable with. In short, if you want a new Golf but you want it to be electric, this is it. It turns out it has all the familiar abilities of a Golf, too. It’s…

It’s easy to imagine Smart as a frustrated author. For years, its output has gathered a small following, but in much too narrow a niche to trouble the bestsellers list. And with its efforts in recent years receiving generally lukewarm reviews, it was time for a fundamental change in direction. Consequently, hot off the Smart press is the #1 – pronounced ‘hashtag 1’. It’s a small SUV – a far cry from the tiny Fortwo and Forfour EQ city cars that the brand persevered with previously, and unlike those models, it deserves to be a major hit. When we assessed it against the up-and-coming BYD Atto 3 and established Kia Niro EV, it took the win in fine style, kicking its similar-priced rivals into touch. Not least among the #1’s…

FOR A MINI, the Countryman isn’t very, well, mini at all, but what it does is successfully take the style of the traditional Mini hatchback and apply it to a much more practical, family-friendly package. It adds in this excellent plug-in hybrid variant, too. The Cooper S E All4 combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for impressive performance and fuel economy. Officially, it’ll average 134.5mpg. From a fully charged battery, you have up to 26 miles of electriconly range to play with, meaning you could complete the school or shopping run without burning a drop of petrol. Sure, there are a few rivals (such as plug-in hybrid versions of the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro and Peugeot 3008) that can better that range, but they’ll cost you more…

Back in the late 1990s, mobile phones were all about being as small as possible. But while today’s smartphones are much chunkier and more power hungry than those vintage items, the trade-off in usability is worth it. A similar shift has taken place in the family car world, with many buyers now walking straight past traditional saloons and estates and going for a chunkier SUV instead. Indeed, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is the brand’s best-selling car, and it’s easy to see why. Although it’s not as sleek or nimble to drive as the equivalent C-Class, the raised ride height makes access easy and the commanding seating position provides a great view out. The SUV’s large boot opening helps when loading bulky cargo, while boot capacity (with the seats up) is slightly…

AMID A BACKDROP of rising costs and the planned 2030 ban on new petrol car sales, the reborn Renault 5 could be the answer to many motorists’ prayers. It’s small and stylish, and when it goes on sale late next year, it’ll be one of the cheapest new electric vehicles (EVs) you can buy. It clearly resonates with What Car? readers, because in an online poll to find the upcoming EV they’re most excited about seeing in showrooms, it beat 11 other contenders, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N performance car, Mini Cooper E hatchback and Polestar 3 and Volvo EX30 SUVs. Revealed in concept form in 2021, the new 5 takes clear design inspiration from the 1972-1996 original, featuring the same sort of angular headlights, chunky proportions and gently…

As a saloon, the Mercedes-Benz C300e impresses in many ways, including its long electric range. But what if you want something more practical? Well, the C300e Estate gives you everything that makes the saloon great, and then some. Of course, the estate boot means more space for luggage, boosting capacity by a modest 45 litres with the rear seatbacks up. But more usefully, accessing and utilising the available space is far easier, thanks to the estate’s lift-up tailgate and broader opening. If you need to fit more cargo in the boot, you get rear seatbacks that split in a handy 40/20/40 configuration, and folding them down increases total space to 1375 litres – although that’s slightly less than you get in the rival BMW 330e Touring. The C300e Estate’s reshaped…

BY NOW, YOU’VE probably quite rightly decided that the Model 3 is the electric executive car for you, but if you’ve also worked out that you haven’t got the necessary folding to make your dream become a reality, don’t despair. If you’re prepared to go back to 2019 for one of the first UK Model 3s, and you’re happy with the performance and 254-mile official range of the Standard Range Plus model, you can buy one now for just £23,000. Alternatively, you can get an example of the post-2020 facelift Long Range with an official range of 360 miles and improved interior quality for about £25,000.Whichever one you choose, those are extraordinarily low prices for such a desirable car. ‘Prices are extraordinarily low for such a desirable car’ Of course,…

Anyone who tells you electric cars are boring has clearly never travelled in a BMW i7. We say ‘travelled in’ rather than ‘driven’ because this 5.4-metre-long behemoth won’t exactly have you grinning from ear to ear if you’re sitting in the driver’s seat. It’s jolly capable, as we’ll explain shortly, but the i7 unashamedly prioritises people sitting in the back. Just as a luxury limousine should. Getting in doesn’t require you to do anything as antiquated as pulling a door handle. If your chauffeur is alert, he or she should have pressed an icon on the 14.9in curved display in the middle of the dashboard as you approach the car, summoning the relevant door to swing open automatically. If said chauffeur isn’t sharp enough, though, you can always speed up…

IT MAY SACRIFICE some practicality over the Cross Turismo, but the regular Porsche Taycan is just as classy inside and almost as sublime to drive. Not only that, but it’s around £10,000 cheaper as a used buy. You’ll find used Taycans are most affordable in 4S guise, because this variant was first to market. It arrived before the Cross Turismo and even the entry-level rear-wheel-drive Taycan. The closely related Audi E-tron GT turned up later, too, so while it’s a cheaper new buy, it hasn’t had a chance to shed as much value. ‘The big-battery Taycan is no pricier than the standard one’ The standard Taycan 4S has a battery with a usable capacity of 71kWh, but we’d recommend looking for one fitted with the optional-from-new Performance Battery Plus (83.7kWh),…

1 Honda Civic EFFICIENCY IS AT the heart of this latest, hybrid-only Civic – and one of its strengths is indeed its fine real-world fuel economy. But that’s by no means the only thing it excels at; it’s also great to drive and very practical, with a relatively big boot and a user-friendly interior layout. And although rear seat space could be better and there’s some road noise to contend with, the Civic compensates by being generously equipped. Our pick 2.0 e:HEV Sport List price £36,495 Target Price £36,495 MPG 56.5 CO2 113g/km For Impressive fuel economy; gutsy performance; big boot; easy-to-use interior; lots of luxury and safety kit Against Pricier than its main rivals; rear head room is only average; some road noise intrudes WHAT CAR? SAYS Toyota Corolla…

1 Kia Sportage OUR 2023 FAMILY SUV of the Year is a great all-rounder with a smart-looking, spacious and user-friendly interior, plus a large boot. It’s generally very comfortable and good to drive, too. For the best value, we’d stick with the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol engine, which combines lively performance with reasonable running costs, but it’s worth paying the small premium to step up to mid-range 3 trim for its generous level of standard kit. Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 3 List price £32,560 Target Price £31,002 MPG 41.5 CO2 154g/km For Smart-looking and spacious interior; large boot; good comfort/handling balance; generous warranty Against Very few options are available; slightly unsettled low-speed ride; rear seating could be more flexible WHAT CAR? SAYS Genesis GV60 Our pick RWD Premium List price £53,905…

1 Range Rover Sport THE SLIGHTLY SPORTIER and cheaper stablemate of the full-fat Range Rover is a fantastic SUV that goes big on luxury, comfort and off-road ability, although other rivals are still sharper to drive. The P440e plug-in hybrid version that we favour has an impressive electriconly range (officially up to 70 miles but realistically 45-50 miles), making this a very enticing option for company car drivers in particular. Our pick P440e Dynamic SE List price £92,980 Target Price £92,980 MPG 338.3 CO2 18g/km For Cosseting ride; extremely quiet; great driving position; long electriconly range; low company car tax Against Cheaper than a Range Rover but still very pricey; rivals are sharper to drive; Land Rover’s reliability record WHAT CAR? SAYS BMW i7 Our pick xDrive60 Excellence Pro List…

1 BMW 4 Series Convertible LIKE THE COUPÉ on which it’s based, the 4 Series Convertible feels wonderfully balanced, and combines agile handling with impressive comfort if you specify the Pro Pack’s adaptive suspension. It’s also refined with the roof up or down, and surprisingly practical for a car of this sort, offering space for four adults and a good-sized boot. Throw in an upmarket and well-equipped interior and you’ve got a drop-top that’s hard to fault. Our pick 420i M Sport (Pro Pack) List price £51,275 Target Price £48,664 MPG 40.4 CO2 160g/km For Agile and precise handling; comfortable ride; user-friendly infotainment system; classy interior Against Some visibility issues; rear seats fold flat but don’t split; adjustable lumbar support costs extra WHAT CAR? SAYS Fiat 500C Electric Our pick…

1 Porsche 718 Cayman IT’D BE EASY to write off the Cayman as a poor man’s 911. It can be bought for as little as half the money, so it must be half the car, right? Well, actually, no; in the ways that matter most, the Cayman is the best sports car on the planet. The only caveat is that you need to go for the GTS model, because this swaps the uncouth engines of lesser versions for a glorious 4.0-litre flat six. Our pick 4.0 GTS List price £75,575 Target Price £75,575 MPG 25.9 CO2 247g/km For Brilliant handling; rich, soulful naturally aspirated six-cylinder GTS engine; classy interior Against Lacks the level of standard kit you’d expect of such a pricey car, both in terms of luxuries and safety…

1 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo THE ALL-ELECTRIC Taycan rewrote the performance car rulebook in 2021, and now the Cross Turismo has raised the bar even higher. It brings greater versatility, courtesy of a bigger boot and roomier rear seats, plus raised suspension that seems tailor-made for battered British roads. Our preferred 4S version is more than fast enough and comes with the larger of the two batteries (a pricey option on the equivalent regular model). Our pick 4S List price £95,255 Target Price £95,255 Range 304 miles CO2 0g/km For Massive and instantaneous performance; remarkably agile; gorgeous interior; more practical than the regular Taycan Against Charging network isn’t as good as Tesla’s; range could be better WHAT CAR? SAYS Audi E-tron GT Our pick quattro List price £86,850 Target Price…